Tune: Still Life

Tune #2

by Derek Kirk Kim, Les McClaine (Illustrations)

In the second installment of the TUNE series of graphic novels, our hapless hero Andy Go is settling into life in an alien zoo...as one of the exhibits. It's not so bad: the food is good, and his environment is a perfect copy of his house back on Earth. But everything falls to pieces when Andy realizes he's been tricked: there will be no weekend visits back to Earth, as he was promised, and his contract doesn't last one year...it lasts a lifetime. Funny, sweet, and incredibly goofy, TUNE is Derek Kirk Kim writing at the top of his talents. Tune: Still Life introduces artist Les McClaine, who brings a new level of sensitivity to the story. Fans of the first volume will be delighted by this new entry in the series.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Humor, Aliens, Comedy

208 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 2013

About the author

Derek Kirk Kim is an award-winning Korean-American cartoonist. He won both major industry awards in 2004, the Eisner and the Harvey, for his debut graphic novel Same Difference and Other Stories, which was originally serialized on his website Lowbright (formerly known as "Small Stories"). He also won the Ignatz Award for promising new talent, in 2003, for the same graphic novel (which was originally published with the help of a 2002 Xeric Award).

Kim came to the United States when he was eight. He considers himself fortunate to have received formal training in the visual arts and in the craft of writing. Much of his early highly acclaimed work was done while living with his parents in Pacifica, California. He now lives in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another black and white comic. The story is still pretty interesting. Andy Go is still in the alien zoo, but they have brought in a mate for him and it’s supposed to be his old girlfriend, but they got her from another dimension and it’s not really his girlfriend. Lots of drama ensues.

It’s a good idea and I find myself enjoying the story. I look forward to reading more. OH drat, it looks like the story didn’t get continued. That’s a bummer. It was a good story and it ended on a cliff-hanger. I guess it didn’t have enough sales.

[First Second Books]

Derek Kirk Kim is such a talented storyteller -- we can't wait until you get a chance to read the latest volume of his dimension-spanning TUNE saga, Tune: Still Life. Now with even more aliens, girlfriends, and problems induced by permanent residence in an alien zoo!

[Emilia P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huh, I am surprising myself by giving this such high marks. First of all, I didn't read the first book, so I don't quite know where it's going. Secondly, I think it's a bit too drawn out (how many books are in this series? Is it necessary? It's one story,geez!). Thirdly, I'm not wildly in love with DKK's artistic style. It's a little too jumpy, cluttered, leaning in the Americanized manga direction without totally committing to it.

But, damn, it's just so darn readable! Who wouldn't be freaked out, making terrible decisions, feeling heartsick, talking to people (or are they people?) through the vents, if they were cooped up in an alien zoo, held in an exhibit that looks like their house, signing contracts with aliens without reading the fine print that keep them there for life! Not to mention having to hold one's toilet needs in until after the zoo is closed. Though the premise is not entirely unique, the execution is on point, with lots of laughs, lots of rooting for our protagonist, and an abiding concern that he is going to screw up life for the girl he likes back in the human world really really badly. Which is, in fact, what we'll find out about in the next book!

There's a subplot about how the alien race, though incredibly advanced, more or less outlawed art centuries upon centuries ago, and there's a sweet upstart girl alien who wants Andy to teach her how to draw. So... there's going to be some conclusion reached about the importance and value of art, and I'll definitely want to see what that is.

A pretty good book for the teenaged, or mentally teenaged gal or guy feeling stuck. Be careful what you wish for, nuture and share your gifts. Also, it's just funny and fun!

Artistically, the bright spot was fairly simple -- black-backgrounded pages speckled with stars, a reminder of the space setting, and just generally cool. Thanks NetGalley, now to read both back and ahead.

[Raina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun diversion that acted as a great palate cleanser between prose works.

This is the second volume in the Tune series, and details what it's like for our star being an attraction in an alien zoo. For serious. :) It does a great job of balancing the upsides and downsides of being watched all the time, and yet having no real responsibilities. I enjoy how Kim floats his panels around the page and the illustration style is accessible and goes down easy. They also do a great job of catching you up if it's been months and months since you read the first one (as it was for me). Definitely adult, and definitely fun.

[Emkoshka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not up to scratch with the first book mainly due to too much scatological humour and a different illustrator. Still amusing and entertaining though so I guess I'll read the third volume when it comes out.

[Arminzerella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andy Go (who has dropped out of art school, failed to find a job, and is still living with his parents) has agreed to become a zoo exhibit in another dimension. He finds the first few days being an exhibit are pretty surreal. He has no privacy once visitors start pouring in (which makes it hard for him to use the bathroom). But, he also enjoys performing for an appreciative audience, so that makes up for some of the weird and/or disapproving looks he receives. Although he’s leaving behind the love of his life, Yumi (ok, they only just decided to take their friendship to a new level), Andy knows he’ll be able to see her on weekends as per the terms of his contract – which he signed, but failed to read. When Andy discovers that he’s signed away his life (with no time off, vacation, etc.) he falls into a deep depression. While in this funk he talks to “Mo,” another zoo exhibit, who gives him the most fantastic idea. If Andy plays his cards right (it turns out he does have some leverage with one of his keepers, Dash, who wants him to teach her how to draw) he may be able to get Yumi to come to him. This backfires gloriously when Dash brings the wrong Yumi back to the zoo. But, this Yumi, at least, has a plan for getting them out of there.

Tune is both philosophically interesting (humans as zoo exhibits!) and funny (always read the fine print when it comes to contracts!). I was disappointed when I checked Derek Kirk Kim’s website for more installments of Tune – it’s only current up through this second book. I hope he’s working on more, because I’m really enjoying it!

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! This is just as good as the first, maybe even better! Loved it! What a bizarre, out of this world story, but Andy Go is just such an ordinary down-to-earth guy that the story flows naturally and seems so normal until you realize just how absurd it really is. Parts of the story are just average 22 year-old slice-of-life guy stuff and then, well, Andy *is* imprisoned in an exhibit in a zoo on an alien planet. Dash is such a sweet, sincere character she's my favourite part. And what an ending! Can't wait for the next volume! A huge winner this series and a must read for older teens and up.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://pussreboots.pair.com/blog/2015...

[angelofmine1974 · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/V79Njyj1EWU

Enjoy!

[Dani Shuping · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by NetGalley

This second volume is the series picks up right where the first one left off. Andy, the average guy, who is disillusioned with the lack of jobs, can't seem to get his art going, and can't work up the courage to ask out his art school crush has finally found that perfect job. He's going to work at a zoo!...as an exhibit in an alien dimension. And while all seems great upon signing the contract, he quickly discovers there's no way home and all of that money he's making is useless in this dimension. And worst of all the aliens messed up on bringing Yumi, his art school crush, to him so he could say goodbye! Instead, he faces Yumi for an alternate reality...where things are a bit different. What's a guy to do?

I’ve been following Tune since it came out in webcomic format and it’s quickly become one of my favorite webcomics to keep up with. I like that Andy is your average guy, for the most part. I can see elements of myself in his story, which of course makes me cringe at times (especially when he realizes that Yumi might actually like him) because I’ve made some of the same choices, the same decisions, and my life mirrors Andy in some ways. And that’s what makes this such a great story, that it is easy to relate to Andy and Yumi. We’ve all mapped out our life and had it veer off into different directions (hopefully no one is an exhibit in a zoo though.) I like the sense of humanity and humility that Derek brings to the characters and I can’t wait to see where he takes them next.

Les McClaine took over the artwork in this volume so that Derek was able to put out the story more often. He has a similar style to Derek's but he really makes the characters his own and brings a different style to them. For me the characters come to life more with Les than Derek. For one Les has a lighter touch, less of the dark heavy lines that typify Derek's work and more of a sketch quality that loosely captures the characters movements and the shading that give them a bit of extra vitality. There's also more of a rounded quality the faces, which does create a bit of sameness to the characters, but at the same time does away with some of the harshness of the earlier versions. Don't get me wrong I love Derek's art, but Les brings his own touches to this work and it adds a great deal to it.

This story has a nice blending of sci-fi and real life, which makes it easy for folks to dive into and read. It’s a story that I highly recommend and I can’t wait to see what happens next. 4 out of 5 stars.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tune was a story I originally read as a Webcomic a couple of years ago. For some reason, I stumbled across this story a couple of weeks ago and decided I wanted to catch up with what was going on in that story. A quick search on Half.com later, and I was just waiting to get the books so I could catch up.

The bad news is that the two volumes already available comprise exactly what's available freely on the Web. I'm not disappointed about that (I have all of the Penny Arcade collections, and several Sheldon collections just because), but considering that the entire story ends on a cliffhanger sort of ending means that I have to wait even longer to find out what happens from here.

For those unfamiliar, Tune is about Andy Go, and art school dropout who's secretly in love with one of his classmates, who has to go out and get a real job when his parents get tired of supporting him. Andy is self-centered and self-absorbed, and he's convinced that his art skills are enough to get him whatever job he wants, but when life intervenes, he finds himself applying for any and all positions that have "no experience required" attached to the description. What he gets, though, is something a little more unusual and unexpected.

Still LifeThe story here is good, and the writing is very tight. There's a casual style to Kim's narrative, which is told from Andy's perspective, with voice-over narration making up a large part of it. The artwork has a manga look to it, which tends to give it a lighter feel, making us take things a little less seriously, but the story, despite its humor and offbeat style, is heavy. It's an odd dichotomy to see the cartoony artwork with the gravitas of certain parts of the story, but Kim (and, in the second volume, McClaine) makes it work. Jud Winick's Pedro and Me had sort of the same issue, but there, Winick's cartoony style worked against him; here, Kim manages to get them to work together just perfectly.

I'd recommend the series to anyone who enjoys manga, graphic novels, good stories (fans of Gene Luen Yang should pay close attention to it), and good writing. Even if you only like one of those things, I'd still recommend it. I'm hoping that the story will be developed and/or concluded soon, because I'm very interested in seeing where it goes. It feels like the series could be about halfway through, but I could even see it going on a bit longer, if necessary. Either way, I'm on board for wherever it goes next.

[Tara Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book from NetGalley without realizing that it's the second in a series, but it ended up okay. In this installment, Andy Go has begun his work as a human exhibit in an alien zoo. The aliens have set him up with an exact replica of his home to live in for one year as aliens watch him through panes of glass. $250,000 seemed like a good salary for this "job" when Andy signed the papers, but he slowly realizes that the job is more than he'd bargained for. His interactions with his neighbor, zookeeper, audience, and eventual companion are just not enough to make him love this life of captivity he's chosen.

I did enjoy Tune: Still Life without having read Tune: Vanishing Point. This might actually be a series I'll continue reading. Like many serial graphic novels, the story is realitively short, simple, and can read in a single setting. This is one chapter of Andy Go's story. Andy is a little bit directionless and lazy, but totally in love with his friend Yumi, so I imagine the characters and plot are developed fully over the course of the series. So I don't expect to feel satisfied at the end of the book, as that's not really the point.

Andy Go is not necessarily a "likable" character, but his situation is fascinating. It begs readers to think about what we'd do as exhibits in an alien zoo. Sure it sounds nice to get a few days to lounge around the house with your favorite foods delivered, but eventually the wall close in. Loneliness hits. Isolation is apparent. And, as Andy Go is shocked to realize, the aliens get to watch everything from going to the bathroom to getting dressed.

Final Grade: B
I will be reading the rest of this series, if I can get my hands on them. It's an interesting concept and great light reading. Though I think the intended audience for this is new adults/adults, there would be crossover appeal for high school students (though be aware of bathroom scenes of Andy on the toilet and the fact that the aliens give Andy Go a female housemate with the hopes of watching the human mating pattern).

[Jessica at Book Sake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tune does a really good job of taking what would be a horrible, nightmare situation and making it funny. I think there was a ‘Twilight Zone’ episode about this very scenario, but darker. Tune is able to make it humorous and is better for it. It still explores a lot of the psychology and moral issue of putting sentient life into cages, but it realizes it can have fun too.

The artwork is cartoony which is perfect for the out-of-this-world story. The exaggerated expressions convey the lunacy of emotions Andy is going through. Panels don’t follow a standard comic grid, they seem haphazardly place about the page with lots of empty space. Sometimes it is used as a storytelling device, but most of the time it just feels empty. It was only distracting at first, but went unnoticed once I got into the story.

The story is interesting and it sets up the problem of how Andy will get out of his cage and back home. He doesn’t really do much to attain this goal. This brings me to my biggest issue with the book. Not much happens. Sure you see Andy going through the motions, making friends and then making a bigger mess. The characters grow and show a level of complexity that most graphics novels shy away from. All of that is great and I love it, but the cost is a slower moving story. ‘Scott Pilgrim’ is similar, but a lot happened along with the character development.

At one point I realized ‘Tune’ was about a guy trapped in an intergalactic zoo, but this was the second volume I was reading and he just got to the zoo. What was the first volume about? Luckily you can read the first volume online, so I did that. The first volume had the same pace and it was only at the end that he arrived at the zoo. For a book about an intergalactic zoo, you’d think there would be more about in the first volume.

Maybe that is the beauty of this book, but some comic readers expect a faster pace. If you are willing to wait and read several volumes of this story, I’d give it a 4.

Book Received: For free from publisher in exchange for an honest review
Reviewer: Chris for Book Sake

[Kristen Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since reading the first book, I have been dying to get my hands on Tune Still Life, the next volume in a series about a boy named Andy Go who becomes a part of a zoo in space. He's the only one in the human exhibit at this point, but soon there will be a female, and who better it to be than Yumi – the girl who he recently found out likes him back. Before he thinks of this, he is miserable and even Dash – the nice female alien that brings him food – cannot cheer him up.

When Andy realizes that Yumi could be with him, he makes a deal with Dash – who is interested in making art, something foreign to the aliens. The only problem is that the Yumi who shows up is one from another dimension, one in which he cheated on her repeatedly. In the meantime, he has made a new friend in the cell mate next door, named Mo. They talk through one of the vents and he's a boon to Andy, since he has been there longer and knows more about the zoo.

I loved the reveal at the end of the graphic novel – I won't spoil it, but it makes me dying for the next volume of Tune already. I love the interactions with the aliens and seeing an average guy like Andy become a spectacle in a zoo. The illustrations are dynamic and really make the story come to life. I love the design of the aliens and the idea of this zoo being in their world, collecting specimens from other places.

Final Verdict: Tune Still Life is a lively second volume to a series that I cannot wait to read more of. Andy is a hilarious character to watch transform and I love seeing this different side of Yumi, since we've only really seen her a little through Andy's own eyes.

[Dale Pearl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advanced Review Media provided by NetGalley

A second volume is the series Andy becomes a zoo exhibit for an alien race. Along the way he realizes that he has become duped and the Aliens aren't as smart as he would like for being able to lead the perfect life they sure have forgotten a few key ingredients.

Tune is an easy read, fun graphics, and witty dialogue. I am sure that every person that reads this will find there self relating to Andy in one way or another, as I suspect that is the author's intention. This is a more comedic interpretation of the Truman Show concept.

I would have preferred greater detail in the artwork, however, what we have is fine and fun.

Tune 2 has a blending of genres. Definitely science fiction and comedy. It is Honey Mooners meets 3rd Rock From the Sun.

I give the writing style 5 stars. Great dialogue, funny and to the point. It carries the story from page to page with wit and irony.
I give the creativity 4 stars. The story has been done before, however, it was done tastefully and unique enough to make for a great read.
5 stars to a believable story. Yes it is science fiction. Yes, it is comedy With that said, the story still reads as "This could happen to me."
5 stars to entertainment value. Clean enough for the most part to be able to read to kids and makes for some great night joint reading efforts with the spouse.

I look forward to more work from the author and will buy the actual book instead of a digital copy once it becomes available to the general public.

[Hollowspine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waking up in a zoo can be frightening, initially. All those bizarre beings staring in at one while one tries to take care a business is a bit off putting, but after a moment of total vexation Andy Go realizes that, in truth, he's perfect for the job. He's fine with being stuck in a cut-out version of his parents house, doing nothing more than lounging, painting and eating, and getting paid for it!

I think I'd enjoy that line of work myself! In fact, I'd probably be better at it than Andy, since I have a very limited interest in human interaction, whereas Andy can't wait for the weekend when he'll be free to visit his crush, Yumi. Wait a minute...it seems there was more to that contract Andy signed, in fact he's just signed away his life, he'll never be able to leave the zoo, more to the point he'll never be able to confess to Yumi!

It seems fitting that since I've been reading about multiverses all over the place lately they would pop up here as well. Andy gets in even more trouble when he makes a deal with B101 (or Dash) to bring Yumi to the zoo as well in exchange for some dangerous cultural art exchange. B101 is forced to visit another multiverse to fulfill this request, with disastrous results.

I'm enjoying the twists and turns and humor, as well as the awesome art, in this series. Derek Kirk Kim sticks in a lot of wordy bits, which add a lot to the story, but he also has panels where no words are necessary to convey...er if not a thousand words, a lot of funny ones at least. Only the second book in and I can't wait to read what happens next.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I didn't read the first title in this Tune graphic novel series, the book's creators provide just enough background before beginning this one to enable me to pick up right where it must have left off. Talented artist Andy Go is getting used to his new home in an alien zoo. As is the case in most human zoos, he's on display most of the day, and nothing, even his bathroom habits, is private. At first, he's living the high life, eating whatever he wants and spending all day watching TV until he realizes the truth about the length of his commitment. When Dash, the friendly, would-be artist who is his caretaker and connection to the alien world, agrees to bring his love interest, Yumi Kwon, to their planet, he figures he'll hang out with her for a while, and then she'll return home. Of course, that isn't what happens at all. Dash returns with the wrong Yumi Kwon who, although she looks just like his Yumi, isn't at all like her except in appearance. This is a funny graphic novel, filled with bathroom humor and jokes often made at the expense of Andy. It's also interesting to consider how invasive it feels to have every move you make being watched and/or recorded as well as the existence of an advanced civilization without art. Since readers are kept hanging by the book's conclusion, they'll have to wait for the next installment to see if Andy finds true love and fulfillment--or at least gets laid.

[Diane Ferbrache · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andy Go is having a terrible time—his art is not earning enough money for him to move out of his parents’ house and his girlfriend (or rather the girl he wants to be his girlfriend) barely pays attention to him. So when he’s offered a job that sounds too good to be true, he jumps at the chance. Unfortunately he discovers that the contract he signed means a lifetime in a zoo in another dimension. Spending his life being watched by aliens was not what Andy had in mind. Then the girlfriend shows up!
Told in stark black and white, Andy’s story in interesting and sometime funny. It’s a sometimes hilarious misadventure with some social commentary to boot. Frequent references to bodily functions and body parts make it for a more mature reader, but teens should enjoy the series. Although it’s not necessary to have read book 1, this is obviously a series that will continue indefinitely. Book 3 is due out soon (probably November since the first two came out in November, 2012 & 2013).

[Chechoui · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel is the 2nd installment in the story; this one following our protagonist Andy Go into an alien space zoo where's he's the exhibit. You don't have to had read the first volume to read this one. What drew me to this comic was the contemporary Asian male lead, which are woefully lacking in American arts and literature. I love how the author even gets down all the details of Andy's favorite Asian dishes. The artwork is a highlight and is expressive and humorous. The dialogue is equally funny at times.

The story centers on Andy pining for his GF Yumi and we also get a nice storyline on the power art can have. My only complaints are that the story drags a bit and not much happens over 200 pages, so it's hard to get into the novel.

I look forward to seeing more published by Derek Kim.

ARC provided by NetGalley.

[Elia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second installment of Derek Kirk Kim's highly entertaining series "Tune" picks up right where the first volume left off - with our hapless anti-hero Andy Go the newest specimen in an intergalactic zoo. Almost as soon as he wakes up, Andy begins to realize the contract he signed isn't the "standard" contract that lets him go home on weekends - oh no... he signed the deluxe package, which means he's stuck in an alternate dimension for life. A dimension where he's a living exhibit, forced to eat, sleep, and yes, even poop in a glass enclosure for the enjoyment of aliens.

Full review to be posted on 11/12/13 (book's release date) on www.shutupandreadsomething.blogspot.com

[Akeiisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a brief recap, Still Life picks up where Tune: Vanishing Point left off - Andy Go, art school drop out has started his new job as a an exhibit in an alien zoo. Unfortunately, it doesn't turn out to be exactly what he had expected. He won't be returning home anytime soon and his captors aren't sympathetic to his change of heart.

The story is stronger and more compelling in this second installment. Kim keeps the humor coming as the hero adapts to his new surroundings and comes to grips with his current predicament.

[Louise Bendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andy is now living at the alien zoo, which serves all his favorite foods and allows him plenty of free time for drawing and painting, with no responsibilities whatsoever. Life is good...until Andy realizes that no, he cannot go home for visits on weekends and no, his contract is not for one year but for his entire life. This fun and quirky comic shines an interesting light on what it means to be on display, as well as what it means to be looking at something on display in its "natural" habitat.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

[Jason Bloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second volume of this webcomic turned GN, it picks up where the first left off as we follow our main character into the intergalactic zoo, which is a replica of his parent's house. Mirroring the plight of Billy Pilgrim of Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five, he is thrust in there for the amusement of an alien species. Luckily he gets to also be in there with the girl he loves. Unluckily, they screwed up and got a version from another dimension. Will he get out? Will he ever get laid? Who is that alien in the cell next to him, and what is his deal?

[Andrei Georgescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe that both the illustrations and the story of this book are wonderful and a breath of fresh air.
It is funny, unusual and human, at the same time. Maybe it should return a bit to the slice of life roots and move away from the alien zoo humor to get better balance for a while but the duality is one thing that makes it so pleasant.
I for one hope there will be many more books to follow and that the love story and generally the parts of the main character's life that we can relate to as well as the fantasy part can both evolve together creatively.

[Nicholas Karpuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this isn't out yet, but having read what I assume is most of the content online, I can say that the second volume of content is damn good, and is the section that truly and fully hooked me into the story. Whereas the first volume was mostly a fun slice of life story, the second volume goes full tilt into the sci fi premise, and it actually makes me wish Kim did more science fiction work.

I'll definitely pick up a physical copy when it comes out.

[ashes ➷ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book just makes me so sad that Tune wasn't continued. It actually improves markedly (though keeping some of its show/tell issues with Kim's writing, and of course some poorly-aged jokes) and I just wish we could've seen where it would have gone. There is a webnovel version, but without the art I get stuck in all the prose issues... might buckle down and read it someday.

[D.T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Much more entertaining than the first, but a bit too crude for my taste...Too many poop jokes for me. :p Anyway, I did find Dash very fun with her childlike wonderment. I guess I'm stuck waiting for the third because these books never get to the meat of the story.

[Javeria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew something was fishy with the aliens. You can’t just get the perfect job and not have some price to pay.

[Anthony Faber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Takes up where book 1 left off. Ends in a cliffhanger.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book was for artist about artist and maybe throw in a few geeks, The characters are easily identifiable and likable. If you don't get it, it is ok, your just not one of us, yet. This was a good read.